the Controversial Committee Report
“We don’t raise sacred cows...we just butcher them.”
“Roller Coaster Golf”
It’s official. The 50th annual Byron Nelson golf tournament attendees and golfers felt the brimstone-breath of Beelzebub at the new Dallas “links” course, Trinity “No Trees” Forest Golf Club.
Sadly, fifty individuals suffered heat problems and had to be treated on the opening day of tournament play. This is probably the only course record worth mentioning at this time!
Apparently, the individuals, affected by the heat, didn’t realize there are no trees on the Trinity “No Trees” Forest golf course. And certainly, ticket prices didn’t include umbrellas, bottled water, or a designated shady space under the overhang of what looked like Crenshaw’s tractor repair barn.
For those with short memory spans, staff of the CCR noted, in the April 6, 2018, “Links Pasture Gas” report (available on the CCR blog site), that golfers and fans should expect to encounter some significantly adverse experiences if planning to attend the Byron Nelson tournament this year. And getting to the course should be added to the list when using public transportation and shuttle services.
Now that the Byron Nelson has completed it’s first season at Trinity “No Trees” Forest, staff of the CCR still questions the crony capitalism-inspired decision to move from the Las Colinas course in Irving. Factors truly not related to Byron Nelson fans and golfers seemed to be in play for this disingenuous decision.
The following items may still require consideration by AT&T, the Salesmanship Club of Dallas, and all the Dallas politicos who could spin the “greatness” of the pea patch course much like they could make chicken salad out of chicken s…..you get the drift.
- Do some prominent members of the Salesmanship Club of Dallas own property abutting the new golf course, or in this immediate Southern Dallas area? Hum!
- Why does it take three modes of DART public transportation for a fan to reach the course?
- What should one think when only six of the top fifty (that’s 12% for math deficient Aggies) PGA golfers signed up to play the Byron Nelson tournament this year?
- If Dallas’ Jordan Spieth, a member of the club course, had previously played forty rounds prior to the tournament and ended up barely gaining a mediocre slot on to the tournament leader board, is this a golf course or an elaborate Putt Putt golf adventure?
- Instead of fans — what few were visible — being treated to amazing golf shots from fairway roughs, unusual placements around trees, or island greens surrounded by sand traps, the main consideration for the golfers was how to properly roll the ball down the barren fairways to the green. Rolling the Titliest, not stroking, seemed to be par for the course.
- Speaking of the greens, there were more mounds, rolls, and speed bumps on each green than one would find on a roller coaster ride on Coney Island.
- For comparison purposes, European link courses certainly have more appeal and golf presence than the Trinity “No Trees” Forest course does.
- If revenue proceeds to the Salesmanship Club of Dallas recognized an increase (a good thing) over last year, what was the count for fans, passing through the gate, compared to last year? Ticket sales numbers are not a true indication or measurement of how many individuals actually attended the event.
- Why were there so many venues available for free tickets to the tournament? When in Irving, the tournament days were sold out and scalpers set up booths and tents on Northgate Drive and MacArthur Boulevard to accommodate an over-abundance of fans.
- Why were the golfers so guarded when making comments concerning the course, how the course played, and the specific conditions of the fairways and greens? Does the PGA fine golfers for bitching about a pea patch “links” course constructed over a landfill?
There will be much written and said about this disingenuous move of the Byron Nelson tournament to Trinity “No Trees” Forest golf course in the future. Hopefully, the contract to keep the tournament in Southern Dallas is short lived for true golf fans!
A short stay at Trinity “No Trees” Forest would be a decision worthy of recognizing that a poor, political, and impartial decision had originally been made by AT&T, the Salesmanship Club of Dallas, and Dallas politicos.
If the tournament does move away from Trinity “No Tress” Forest golf course, SMU golfers wouldn’t have to change their schedule of practicing. After all, this has been designated the home course for the university.
Perhaps, PGA golfer, Matt Kuchar, best summed up the Trinity “No Trees” Forest golf course, surrounding amenities, and fan reactions when he stated, “I like Las Colinas better.”
Hey, Matt, staff of the CCR believes 99.0% of the fans and golfers attending the tournament might also agree.
Those not agreeing just might be the ones who have a vested interest in development occurring, around the course area, in the very near future.
…………………………………………..Mark Holbrook
